Narrative Therapy
Art by RobDeLoach.com
Life and our understanding of it is a process of storytelling. Often our dominant stories are problem-saturated, and it is difficult to see the alternate stories of our strength, resilience, and coping. The way we view ourselves, others, and the world in which we live is influenced by these dominant narratives. The events and people we choose to include in our stories colors them and informs our sense of who we are.
Narrative therapy also holds that our lives and the problems we experience are not created by us in isolation. Instead, they are created through the interactions we have with others. They are strongly influenced by context - our family, communities, cultures, and the social and political environment.
A narrative therapy approach means that I focus on your assets, not deficits. I consider you the expert in your life. The problem you experience is the problem; you are not the problem. What some consider mental health “symptoms,” I consider adaptive strategies that we, as human beings, utilize in the face of adversity. I work collaboratively with you to explore the personal meaning that fills your stories, uncover your unique skills, and work with you to reach your goals.
A narrative therapy approach means that I focus on your assets, not deficits. I consider you the expert in your life. The problem you experience is the problem; you are not the problem. What some consider mental health “symptoms,” I consider adaptive strategies that we, as human beings, utilize in the face of adversity. I work collaboratively with you to explore the personal meaning that fills your stories, uncover your unique skills, and work with you to reach your goals.
